Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday inaugurated the J&K International Buyer-Seller Meet 2026 at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, emphasizing the government's efforts to boost exports from the Union territory.
Government Measures to Boost Exports
Abdullah highlighted two approaches to enhance exports: taking artisans to buyers or bringing buyers to the region. Since transporting numerous artisans is impractical, the government organized the buyer-seller meet to facilitate direct interaction. "We hope it will boost exports," he told reporters after the inauguration.
The event features 40 buyers from 16 countries across Africa, Australia, North America, Europe, and Asia. When asked about the absence of representatives from some nations due to the Iran-US war, Abdullah noted the diverse attendance and expressed hope that those unable to attend would participate in future editions.
Training and Encouragement for Exporters
The two-day meet includes training sessions to assist both existing exporters and aspiring entrepreneurs. Abdullah stated, "We are trying to help the existing exporters or people who want to become exporters. The idea is to not only promote the existing exporters to export more, but also to encourage those who don’t export to start exporting."
Tourism in Kashmir
Regarding tourist footfall in Kashmir, Abdullah refrained from sharing specific numbers, saying, "Please do not go into numbers as we take a beating then. People are coming and there are traffic jams. Gulmarg is full, Pahalgam is full and people are earning livelihood. Let them earn."
Middle East Situation
On the Iran-US conflict, Abdullah expressed hope that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries would not be sabotaged by a third party. He clarified that only an MoU has been signed, not a final agreement, and both nations have given themselves 15 days, though bombing continues in Iran, Kuwait, and Bahrain. "We hope that the two countries use this time productively so that no third country can sabotage the ceasefire," he added.
